Scenting Your Cottage

With doors and windows closed during the winter months, it's nice to scent your cottage with wonderful aromas. Here are some recipes I have found that leave your home fresh smelling.

Room Freshener
Dilute an essential oil using the ratio of 10 drops of oil to 7 tablespoons of water and use it in a metal or ceramic sprayer as the oils will deteriorate if stored in plastic.

Citrus-Mint Room Mist
Mix the essential oils in a small glass bottle, shake, and store in a cool, dark place. Add 6 drops to one cup of water and spritz the liquid into the air. Another fragrant idea is to place a few drops on a cotton ball and tuck into your dresser drawer, or closet shelf.

Lavender Sachet Bags
The most traditional of all scented bags, the lavender bag has enjoyed such enduring popularity because it is deliciously fragrant and keeps moths at bay.
Makes 5 bags
3 oz. lavender
1 oz. ground orris root
25 drops lavender oil
Divide the filling equally between fabric bags and fasten each bag with a tie, ribbon or cord.

Furniture Polish
This is a simple polish to make, and the addition of wood oils will give it an attractive resiny fragrance.
Makes 1 cup
3-oz. natural beeswax
3/4 cup pure turpentine
20 drops cedarwood oil
10 drops sandalwood oil
Step 1
Grate the beeswax coarsely and place in a screw-top jar.
Step 2
Pour on the turpentine, screw on the lid and let sit for one week, stirring occasionally until the mixture becomes a smooth cream. Add the essential oils and mix well. The polish is then ready to use.

Pomanders
Popular since Tudor times a pomander will give off its scent for years. The Victorians hung pomanders in their closets to ward off moths. Check my archives on how to make your own pomander.

Herb Spheres
Use your creativity to create beautifully scented spheres.
1 Styrofoam Ball, Pyramid or shape of your choice
1 Cup dried herbs or potpourri, dried rose petals or dried small flowers for a 6" size ball
White Glue
Twine or Ribbon
Pour herbs mixture into a bowl. You may choose to grind leaves or petals in a coffee grinder or food processor or glue them on separately. Cover an area of the ball with glue and roll ball through mixture, covering an area at a time. Cloves may be glued on separately. Cover ball with waxed paper and firmly press. Allow to dry completely before adding ribbon.

Door Sachets
Make small fabric bags and fill them with potpourri or cotton balls impregnated with essential oil (ensure that the oil is at the center of the cotton or it may stain the fabric). Fasten the sachets with ribbon or cord and hang them on door handles. As the door is opened and closed it will waft the fragrance around the room.